Safety-fender



A.'L'0SCALZO.

SAFETY FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.9. 1916. RENEWED DEC. 6,1919.

1 ,352,75'7. PatentedSept; 14, 1920.

5 SHEETS4-SHEET l- Q I WWI/WM I i 3513 4; (lawn m1 A. LOSCALZO.-

SAFETY FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.9. 1916- RENEWED DEC. 6,1919- 1,852,757. PatentedSept. 14,1920. v

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- z {5 E N My? :1

A. LOSCALZO;

SAFETY FENDER. APPLICATION FILED DEC.9. 191s. RENEWED DEC. 6. 1919.

Patented Sept. 14,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UMTED merino osoAnZdlbr NEW" YOBKQTN,

" 2 I 'AFETYEiEIIDEBZ ff 1'.

Application filedDecember 9, 191 Serial No. 136,082. nenewed necember c 1 91e.,}sriai no Toa ZZ whom it may concern? H I Be it known that I, ANGELO LosoA L zo, residin'gat New York, in the countyand State of New York, have invented. certain-new-and i useful Improvements in a Safety-Fenden'ot which the following isa specification.

This invention relates .to'a safety-fender for vehicles, and the ob ect thereof'lsto provide an improved and highly. efficient; fender mechanlsm adapted partlcularly for use upon an .aiitomobile, though it maybe means for controlling .sition.

readily applied to other forms of Vehicles,

lf ClGSiIBClF I a H A more detalled oblect 1s to provlde. a tender comprising a vertically. d1sposedcol- -lapsible barrier in association with suitable gripping arms, and" to provide eflicient parts.

A further v object is to provide means Wherebythe impact of a person or object struck will automatically cause the operation of the above mentioned elements.

A further object is to provide means whereby the automatic operation of the dev vicefwill be prevented at all times exieptxg greater-.

when the vehicle is proceeding at I than a predetermined speed.

ther ob 'ects and aimsof the invention,

more or. less specific;tlian-.those referredto arrangements of parts and applicationsof principles, constituting the invention; and. the scope of protectionrontemplated will indicated in the appended'claims' In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken asra part.of:thisgspecifieation, and in which I have'shownmerely a pre-- .ierred form of embodiment ofjthe inven tion Figure 1 being shown in :their Fig. 2 is a similar view-but reverse side of'the mechanism, parts of the automobile structure being shown -invertical section; II I i Fig. 3 1s a'view similar to that shown 1n Fig.2, but illustratingtheparts of the do vice i ntheir extendedcondition.

Fig. e-is a top plan view showing the parts in their normalcollapsed posltlon, as shown a in Fig.

and operating said of Fig. 9. Fig.1 12. isa similaiqsectiOhal.view taken upon the plane of line XIL-XII of Fig. 9. 1 1

.Fig. 18 is azfragment'ary detailview i'l-lusf trating a :feature of construction ot the -ver-.i ti-calscreen or barrier? l Fig; 14;. is; a detail: sectional- ,vieW i-illus-r is front elevationalview'ofthe device compr sing this invention, the parts normal collapsed p'otaken from Fig. i5'lisa View similarzto thatshovvnilin *2 tended .positio-n asgin..Fig. 3. v "Fig, 6 is an enlargeddetail view, partly in sectiomvfor' better illustrating the sstruc-; --y ture shown at the ileitha'ndsidecof Fig.

Fig. :6f'iis a view on alslightlyenlarge I scaleof-a'detail ofic'ons'truction. H I II I is a similarlygenlarged .top-iplan. View. oii-a :portion iof the structure shown in a I enlarged fragmentary detail View of a part of Lthedevice illustrated. in 5 Fig.-z8 is an Fig- 9 isi a'n enlarged elevational detail view sho-Wingthe construction'ofQipartsliofi the foldingiarms... a 7

shown in Fig.9, parts being illustrated in section;

View takenj'upon the planepf line XI-XI Fig. 10 isafp'lan vievvo fthe structural:

trating atypeof governor device Whichamay be employed inconne'ctionqvith the structure-H" shovvn in the other figures, .F1g.w,15 is a fragmentary vlew t'aken upon .the

, detail sectional v plane .ofline of Fig.i10.;and'=.} I I F'g. 16-'is.an en-largedkdetail.seotional-yievv "I illustrating .a latchdevice carriedby the ver- I tical barrier. ;-:--f 1 :Fig...1-7s is 'a 'detailQview. illustrating the fenderimechanism }to; a vehicle; 1

supporting: members -for. *connectinggthe Referring nowyto: the I drawings. for-ij describing in :detail l the structure which is illustrated therein; the reference" character;

rgcas'ing; yiThis inlay be of. V any suitable shape} and size but .is preferably rectangular-in cross=section-, as best' seen .in I Figs.,-11fiand 12. 1 It isiintended to be. ar-n ranged in a h red position transversely in front .of =-the'vehic1'e, andris ofa length to); extendthe fullividthof awehicle. It mayf, beconneoted to-thevehicIe-in any desired L 4 indicates a mamannen' for instance. bybeing fixed to the} 5.

forward ends oifvthe under'frame parts 1 in thezautomobile. structureiillustrated.

Extending: longitudinally @vvithin the projects from the cross bar to a point -ex;

teriorly at the rear of the casing Where it engages a suitable latch device 6. The latch device 6 retains the crossbar supported in eleva ed. positi n withinmhe asing The latch device 6 is connected to be controlled'by' a buifer bar G which-extends parallel with the casing L in a plane in advance of the casing.

I by a pair of rods 7' slidably mounted upon The bufier bar is supported the upper-surface of the casing in. suitable [bearings 8 carried by the casing. Compres sion springs 9 surround the rods? and are disposed to press.the'buii rv b t dl away from the casing.

. The-inner ends of the rods carry latches 10 which are disposed to engage latches 11" carried at the opposite ends of aconnecting rod 12, for pressing back the connecting rod whenever the rods 7 are slid inwardly, .as

when the: buiferbar G encounters an obstacle; The latch device 6 iscar'ried by the connecting rod 12 and one or more compres sionsprings 13 are disposed for pressing the connecting rod toward the casing, said The latches 11 are pivotally mounted at I the ends of the connecting rod" 12 and have springs serving to yieldingly. retain 'the latch deviceinlatching. position. The outer ends of the springs bear upon a bracket carried by the casing.

lever-like extensions 15 for hearing against the casing, said extensions assisting in. the

backward movement of the connecting rod and: also allowing the outer end of the latches togradually free themselves from thelatches of the -:rods 7 asthe conIfictin curtain adapted to prevent approximately rod moves backward'l y.

c From the above it will be understood that when the bufier bar G. encounters an. object 1 and is moved backwardly, the connecting rod 12 is; likewise moved backwardly and 'disengages the latch device 6 from the end of the hook rod 5, allowing the cross bar 4 to move downwardly, unwinding the curtain V 3 from'the roller 2, to instantly constitute 50 a vertical barrier across'the: front of the vehicle; Any" suitable means maybe employed for hastening the downward pro T f jection of the curtain and for-retaining it] in a suitable rigid condition when down.

To hasten the. downward movement the drawing illustrates a pair oftelescopic rods H- employed,sai d;rods each comprising a plurality of independently 5 formed sections arranged to telescope within each other, the outermost, or largest sections, as 16, being fixed to the rear side of thezcas'ing L and the innermost or smallest sections 17 being 3 fixed to thecross bar a; Suitable compres-f- 's'ion springs'18 aredisposed one within each of the rods for, forcing the smaller seca rods.

tions rapidly v downwardly the instant the latch device 6 releases.

If desired, telescopic guide ,rods 19 may be air-ranged within the rods H for maintaining the springs 18 in suitable operative to receive pressurewhenever an objectis struck by. the curtain, or by they cross rod 4.

In order to lend. rigidity to the curtain while inits lowered position, a pair of brace rods 21 are pivotally connected to the casing L, as at 22. slidably engage withinbrackets 23 carried by the-cross bar lat all times during the 1 movement of curtain. When the cross bar 4 is in'its-elevated position the brace rods are horizontal and lie substantiallyparallel with the length of the casing L, as clearly shown in Fig. 2f Asthe cross bar 4t moves The free ends of these rods downwardly, however,'latch devices 24 (see Fig. 16) carried by the brackets 23 engage the brace rods and swing the brace 'rods downwardly. As the cross bar reaches its lowermost position a tooth 25 formedat the free ends of the brace rods engage within pockets 26 formed in the bracket, 23,. At

'the sametime a shoulder part 27 formed upon the brace rods engages against the brackets. to, limit the swinging of the brace When the brace rods come to rest, I

in the manner indicated, theystand at. an

incline, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6,

and thereby constitute a rigid brace for the for yieldingly'holding the brace rods in their elevated position.

Pivotally carried by the casing' L to swing in a horizontal plane are a pair of gripping arms 30 and 31,.the' pivotal supportias 32- 7 being disposed'substantially midway of the.

length of the casing L. A coil spring 33 surrounds the pivot 32 and has its opposite ends fixed one to each of the armslO and 31, the tension. otfrthe spring being such as to urge the outer ends of the arms toward each other, orinto gripping position. The

gripping arm30 is provided-with a toothed or ratchet surfacedt concentric with the pivot 32 and the. gripping varm 31 carries a yielding dog 35 for: engaging theteeth tion which they may assume during their operation. I

. In" order tolretain the gripping arms in their normal inoperative position, a pair ofslide bolts 36 are employed, said slide bolts being'carried by the casing L' one adjacent each end-fsaidcasing and being spring Q Thuswhen pressed upwardly by suitable springs .37 carriedflwithin the. housings 38 through which the bolts slide. The uppeinends of the .bolts'engage through eyes formed in lugs 39 carried by the arms. The bolts arearranged in a' substantially vertical position and their lower ends as 40. project into the path of strikers 41 carried by the cross bar 4. n

the cross bar 4 movesdownwardly the slide bolts are withdrawn from engagement with the arms and the spring 33 isleft instantly free to swing the arms forwardly. I

In order to improve the operation of the gripping arms said arms are preferably provided with extensions 42 and 43. These extensions are telescopically carried by the arms 30 and 31 and are spring pressed outwardly from the ends of said arms 30 parallel relation and adapted to teles'copii cally' receive a pair of rods'45 constituting thee'xt'e'nsions'. The rods 45 have pivotally connected sections 46 at their" inner ends within the members 44 andcompression sprlngs 47 are" arranged within the members 44 behind the sections 461 At'the outer endsfof the members 44 pivotally connected sleeves 48 are provided througlrwliich the rods'45 slidably extend. A coil spring 49' is'fitted about the pivot rod '50' and has one of its ends bearing against a part fixed to the members '44" and its other -end bearing against apart fixed to the sleeves-48 adapt-- ed to "urge thesleeves forwardly. A ratchet surface miscarried by the members 44 and ,alsp'ring pressed dog 52'iscarried by thesle'e'ves forretaining the sleeves in any for-1 1 were position which they may assume in pperati'on. 1

il/Vh'enthe slide bolts are withdrawn the springs .47 instantly projeetthe rods45 outwardl'y-frOmthe members 44' 'until'the pivot pins 53 between the rods 45' and the sections ices-meats al-inement with the pivot I rod 51. Until this timeithe rods 45'serve t'o tain'thespring .49 against functioning;

butimmediately the pivot pin53 comes into alinement with the-pivot rod 5lJi/l16SpIlTlg-L 49- is free to function and, instantly throws.

the extension forwardlytowardthe position indicated in. Fig. '5. i'

Suitable pads or the like as 54v aud b e may be provided upon the grippingaarms and upon the extensions for preventing-1m ury to the person struck.

The sections 46 are preferablyprovideiil wlth shoulders 56 for engagingshoulders" within the members 44 to determine; the

outermost position of said sections 46.

The lower ends of the slide bolts are pref j.

erably pivotally connected to the upperpor-qtion' of said bolts, as at 58', whereby said-5 '7 lowerendswill be free to swing" out of en- -i gage'ment with the strikers after, the slide bolts have been withdrawn for a'suitable,

distance; a It is. believed that the full operation this device'will'be understood from the fore i going and for this reason a further detailed;

description of the operation is deemed unnecessary. It is evident that the momentan obstacle is encountered by the buffer bar G- to force said buffer bar backwardly; the hook rod is released and the curtain is projected downwardlyto provide a transverse barrier .1

in front of the vehicle, and as the curtain starts its downward movement the strikers 41 thereon withdraw'the slide bolts and re--- lease the gripping arms and extensions whereupon said arms and-extensions swing outwardly toward the position indicated inaf Fig. for gripping the object struck; Thegrlpplng arms will serve tov preventthe ob?? I I 0 V In-order to ;return-the parts to their nor-1 J ject from falling after having beenstruc'k.

mal position the operatorv "disengages the lower ends of the brace rods from the'brackets 23 and rotates the-roller 2 to wind the q curtain again uponsaid roller and bringfthe cross bar 4 into its elevatedposition wiit jh;the hook rod engaged by the latch'device; 6.1" In order to rotate the roller 2 a'suitabletoolli may be inserted through an opening 59in I the end wall of the casing intoengagement with a rectangular lug 60 carried 'by-the-i roller-2, as clearly seentin Fig. 15. n

After the curtain-hasbeen re-wound the ment with their respective ratchet teethiand- I dogs 35 and 52 arewithdrawn'from engagethe arms areswungsbackwardly so that the slide bolts engage through'the eyes ofthei j.

lugs 39. V

" ployed'for preventing the operation of the parts of this deviceexcept when the'vehicle is travelingat a pre-determined speed-:An' example of such mechanism is illustrated in Y Fig. 14 m which it willbe seen that 'agovernordevice is employed. *Thisidevice 'com-i A y desired form O e ass may a; amt-'1} trifugal force developed by the weights 6a movable part of the latch device.

will produce a sliding movement of a sleeve 66. A cord or wire 67 extends from the sleeve 66 to a filler block 68 which is dlsposed 'intermediatea fixed lug 69'and the movable part of the latch device 6 and the sliding movement of the sleeve 66 will cause said filler blocks ,tobemoved out of position between said lug 69 and said movable part of the latch; device, 6. A suitable spring '[0 is provided for retaining the filler block nor mally-in position between the lug 68 and the By this means it is evidentjthat the latch device 6 is the automobile. The pivotal connection may positively retained against operation except when the vehicle is traveling at a speed sufficient to throw the weights 64.- outwardlyto a point where the filler block iswithdrawn.

' When the device of this invention isv intended to be used upon an automobile structure -it is desirable that it be pivotally con.

nected to the frame of the automobile so that it maybe conveniently swung'to a position OLlt-Qf-tllQrVZLY for permitting the operator to have free access to the cranking lever of be afiordedby any desired means, but preferably it includes a sleeve '71 which is carried.

bythe casing and Whichis rotatably mount- ;ed at the upper end of'a vertical standard 72 which is fixed to the part 1 of the vehicle, thesleeve 71 being located adjacent one end ofthe casing L. Adjacent the. opposite'end of theoasing oneor more lugs 73 are fixed to the casing and are disposed to engage within a corresponding number. of apertures 74 formedft-hrough theupper end of a standard 75,1 fixed to. the opposite member; 1 of the vehicle A snap catch 76 is arranged for detachably retaining the lugs in position, as

' best seen 'inFig. 8. By withdrawing the catch 7 6 thecasing may be readily swung about the standard 72 at Will.

In order to adjust the position of the casing to meet the requirements of difierent vehicles to which it may be attached, the standmembers '77 and the standardswill-alter th elevation-of the casing L relatively to the, members 1. Also the sleeve 71 and the m r y g h lugs 73 are adjustably 6.5. ronflectedito the casingL b b i received ards: 72' are internally thread d at th ir" lower ends and-adjustably receive threadedmembers 7 7 which'a-re fixed to the. members 1 ofthe vehicle. .lnter rotation between the between guide members 78- so that they may be fixed in adjusted positions relatively to the length of the casing. The sections 16. ofthe telescopic rods H ,are likewise adjustably connected to the casing by means of the members 78 for the same purpose, as will be clearly seen'from an inspection of 6 and 11.

By referring a diagonal brace 7-9 is provided in'conneestandards; Preferably the connection at the lower end of the standards with the part 1 of the vehicle, as at 80, is a pivotal one so that the standards may be swung for proper adjustment relatively to the vertical. Thediagonal braces 7 9 are preferably made-up ottwo sections telescoping together'in a: suitable manner whereby the length of the.

braces may be altered to retain the standards in any adjusted position. The 'longie tudinal adjustment of the braces also oo FlgS.

to Fig 17 it will be seen that V tion With the standards 72 for bracing said 1 pera es with the longitudina adju tnrie t- 0f h tandards or the' ame purpose.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by. Letters Patent is:

1. Adevice of the-class described, come:

prising a fender mechanism, means forconnect ngone end of the fender mechanism to a vehicle, said means comprising in parta pivotal mounting for the fender mechanism W er y sa d fender mechan sm may he swung bodily in a horizontal plane for giving more convenient access to. portions of the.

vehicle, and independent supportingmeans for connecting the opposite end of the fender mechanism to the vehicle.

A device of the classdescribed, comp ng a fe mechanism, means for icon-v necting the fender mechanism to a vehicle,

said "means comprising in part a pivotal mounting for the fender mechanism where y ai fender m c a i may be swung d ly in a ho izon al p ane fo g v ng mo convenient access to portions of the, vehicle,

said pivotal mounting being disposed .ada n e n of he f n er m h n sm,

and releasable latch mechanism engaging between theopposite end of the fender mechanism and-the support thereof.

3.- vice of the class described, com

prising a fender mechanism, means for sup: porting the fender mechanism upon a; vehicle, SZtlCl means compr sing a vertical 120, standard adapted to be fixed by'its lower portion to the vehicle. and having its upper,

portion hired to the fender mechanism,and, r. If i i -mean s comprised in the standardfor altering the length thereof to adjust thevertical posi o e f nde mech nism elatively to the vehicle.

4- A device o the class descr b dycem p ising a en er m an m, a. upp tx onsupporting the. fende mechanism co nec ed toa \"ehic1e, said support comprising vertically disposed telescoping members adjustable relatively to each other for alteringthe elevation of thei'ender mechanism, and said. support also comprising an angle brace formed of a pair of telescoping members adjustable relatively to each other to accommodate adjustment of the first, mentioned telescoping members.

fender mechanism comprising in part a member formed of a plurality oftelescoping sections, means for .retalning the sections in: nested relation when the tender is not in-operation, means for distending said sections into I fending position, and; means 7 for automatically producing operation; of "the last mentioned means when an object is struck.

6. A" fender mechanism comprising in part a member formed of a plurality of telescoping sections, means for retaining "said sections in nested relation'when the fender.

is not in operation, means for distending said sections lnto fendlngpo'sltlom'a guard bar arranged 1n front of sald member'movable upon contact withan object struck, and means associated with said guard bar for controlling the operation of said last menalso comprising telescopingv sections arranged within said spring to. guide said spring, and independent means for" urging the sections of the guide rod into distended position. 7

8. A fender mechanism comprising in part a member formed of a plurality of tubular telescoping sections normally nested to-i gether, a coil spring arranged within said member disposed to urge the sections of the member into distended position, a guide rod also comprising tubulartelescoping sections arranged within said spring to guide said spring, and a compression spring contained within said guide rod for urging the sections of the guide rod into distended position.

9. In a fender mechanism, an elongated casing adapted to be arranged transversely in front of a vehicle, a normally inoperative fender part carried within said casing, means a connected to the casing having a movable portion movable with the fender partfor bracing the fender part when the fender part is in operative position, and auxiliary brace means adapted to be carried by the vehicle disposed to be engaged said memberwhen the fender part is in operative position for bracing said member.

10. n a fender mechanism, an el ngate -is'projr-vcte'd.;- 7 12. In a tender 'mechanlsm, a ca's1ng,-i a

casing adapted ,to be. arranged transversely in front of a vehicle, az normally moperat re tender part carried avithln-said casing,-'a

pair of brace elements one arrangedfadjw cent each" end of ,the'casmg having portions. engaging the fender part to brace the fender part,-an auxiliary brace means adaptedto be carried by the vehlcle forbraclng. the first brace elements, and meanslwhereby-the first 3 brace elements are adjustably connected 1on gitudinally of the: casing for the purpose'set forth.

Jlli-In' ifender-mechanism',:.a casing, a

curtain normally contained'within the casing, impact controlled means for projecting a portion of the curtain outof the casing to constitute a fender'partfand a pairiofarms' each pivotally connectedwiththe, casing by one endto-swing into bracing engagement with 'aportion of thec'urt'ain as the curtain curtain normally contained-within the; cas- I ing, impact controlled fm'ean's for. projecting a portion ofthe curtainout of the casing 'to constitute a tender part, a1;brace' rod pivot; I -a'lly connected by one of itsjend's with the casing, said brace'rod being normally in -an" inoperative position, A means for swinging said rod into operative ,position' when 5 the urge the rod toward either inoperative position. 7 v

13. A fender mechanism comprising, a

casing, a curtain normally out of fending pocurtain is projected,and means operative, to

ts operat ve or ice sition but movable into fending position,

means for moving said curtain into-fending position, a pair of arms arranged in front of said curtain pivotallyv mounted to swing toward each other, means engaging'b'etween,

a part carried bysaid casing and the outer ends of said arms to retain said arms against swinging when sald curtaln is in normal position, and means whereby said arms will swlng toward each other when sald curt'aln is moved to fending position. 3

14. A fender mechanism comprising a l pair of arms pivotally mounted to swing-Q I toward each other-{for the purpose set-forth,

each of said arms comprising a plurality of sections pivotally connected together, re-

against swinging toward each other, and

leasable means for retaining said arms" means whereby adjacent sections of said arms will swing relatively to each other tov taining means.

'15. A fender mechanlsm comprlsmg a .120 bow said arms upon the release of said res pair of arms pivotally mounted to swing toward; each other for the'purpose set forth,

each of said arms comprisinga plurality of sections pivotally connected together, releasable means forfretaining said arms against swinging toward each other, means whereby adjacent sections of'said arms will swing.

relativelyito each other to bow said arms upon the release of said retaining means,

- and means for retaining the-arms bowed.

5 16. In a fender mechanism, a casing, a

tender part normally inoperative within the casing, a pair of gripping'arm's pivotally connected exteriorly of the casing, im-

- pact'controlled means for moving the fender part into operative position exteriorly of the "casing, and means controlled by the :Inovement. of the 'fender part for moving said'arms toward gripping position.

17 V-A fender. mechanism comprlslng a pair of gripping arms pivotally mounted to swing toward each other, a slidable ex- 7 tension carried by at, least one of said arms,

said extension, being normally ina nonextend'ed position, means urging the extension ftoward extended position, means urging said arms toward gripping position, and impact controlled means for retaining the extension 1 in non-extended position.

' pair of gripping armspivotally mounted to s 18; A fender mechanism comprising a swing toward each other, a slidable-extension carried by at least one of said arms,

said'extension being normally in a non-extended position, meansurgmg the extension 1 toward extended position, means urging 30 said armsto'ward gripping position, and impact controlled means for retaining the extension in non-extended position, a support for said arms, and said retaining means en gaging between said support and said extension whereby also to retain at least one of said arms against swinging.

Y 19. In a fender mechanism, a supporting member, a pair of gripping arms pivotally mounted upon the supporting member to swingfintoand out of gripping position,- said'arms being tubular, extension members slidably carried within said arms adapted to be projected'from the outer ends thereof,

means constantly urging the extension members toward extended positlon, means con stantly urging said arms toward gripping position, andimpact controlled retaining means engaging between the supporting "member and said extension members arranged to serve the double purpose of retaining the gripping arms against swinging' and the extension members against being projected. 

